DM Rah's Strange Aeons

Game Master Kobash

Treasure in hand and a dead monster at their feet, the Watchmen depart the old infirmary and head towards the merchant shops of Cassomir.

Sorry for the delay. Was sick earlier this week and am catching up. It seems the group is going to shop. The $Loot List$ Document has most of the current treasure. What do you need from me to push forward?

Fearless looks through their bag of loot. He grabs out a necklace with glimmering red beads and puts it around his neck. "The rest of that can probably be sold."

Fearless will claim necklace of fireballs if noone else wants.

Cats has claimed all he's going to claim. Let's cash out.

Cats will help carry, count, and sell the loot.

Remember, my fellow Watchmen, when shopping -- watch out for the conmen and the scoundrels. You may want to bring me along to both negotiate a good price for your expensive items, and to keep you from getting pinched. I know you all realize my incredible talents, especially my talented tongue.

And he gives a wink at the double entandre.
I am ready to shop in this city!

"Have at it, haggler." the Mariner having taken the potion.

Lets get this shopping done! Items can be sold for half normal value. If haggling, diplomacy can get you percentage increase on sales and decrease on purchases equal to half your diplomacy roll. Give me a list of items or upgrades you want and I’ll determine availability.

We can do the loot on the discussion page as we push on.

Leaving the merchants, the Mariner leads back to Star. Stepping firmly onto the familiar slippery deck, he feels some sense of groundedness. A round of checking on the crew and some loot sharing from his own pack, he signals to push off and sail to Katheer.

Pointing to the horizon, "Second star to the right and straight on 'till somebody dies."

So, a museum.... Fearless.... you have any thoughts on how we can be a team of sneaky people and d a break in on a place that will have high levels of security? Desna's ability to see through doors and pop into spaces not far away should come in handy. But, I'm confident that we will need more tricks and magic suppressing plans if we are to make this gambit successful.

"I have a few ideas, first we need to take off all that loud-ass armor. " He points to Mariner's chain shirt and we can try to sneak in. It helps if you have a little hair on your feet rather that those clown shoes. It pads the noise!"[/b] Fearless seems a bit overwhelmed as he knows he can't get through to the door whisperer. "Other than that I can turn us all invisible for a short bit."

Cats helps lug and sell the loot, hopeful of being able to buy something nice for himself, like a full body massage with all the extras.

"I have a few ideas, first we need to take off all that loud-ass armor. "

"Oh, you mean go dragoon-style", the Mariner says matter-of-factly, "Yeah I can do that - old country way. Scares the juices out of villagers."

"Skywin!", he calls out to the halfling, "How many days to Katheer?"

Along with the deed, was there a shiny new level in the attic?

Cats buys some fancy boots and is ready to continue the adventure, probably involving the damn boat again.

If you want to see the whole map of the Old Informary, I’ve opened it up on the google slide. Regarding ship voyages, yes, you are taking another, and according to the adventure it will take take a couple months. The good news is this trip is mostly uneventful and gives you downtime to research, enjoy the cruise, do a voyage montage or two, craft items…

… and advance to level 11!

Armed with knowledge and nice new boots, the Watchmen board the Sellen Starling and set sail from Cassomir. The journey across the Sea of Stars takes a couple weeks, but is mostly uneventful. The Mariner discovers he can recall fragments of a few memories of previous voyages, and knows all the secret rudders to take to avoid good and bad trouble.

In his usual spot in the renamed “Cats Nest”, Cats is the first to get a proper view of Katheer. One of the greatest cities in the known world, it is a sprawling mass of glittering buildings, side-by-side with ancient creations that struggle to remain standing. By comparison, Cassomir is a village. Thousands of vessels ply the river, darting in and out of Katheer’s port. Countless laborers, sailors, and merchants infest the port, and in places the river is so thick with boats that it almost seems possible to cross it without getting wet feet.

There are hundreds of sites here that could draw adventurers, and the Pathfinder Society has documented dozens of them, but the Watchmen are here to see only one of them - the Mysterium.

Known originally as the Hakkar Minair, the Mysterium is located in the University District on the edge of the campus of the Venicaan College of Medicaments and Chirurgery. A stout sandstone building topped with a pyramid and decorated with statues of angelic creatures on its four corners, the Mysterium is said to be one of the oldest arcane libraries in Qadira.
The Mysterium was built in the early decades of Katheer’s founding by Kelish scholars, but the library has since come under the control of a sect of Nethys worshipers named the Stewards of the Vault, who have turned the Mysterium into a temple of sorts. While worship certainly takes place within the Mysterium, it is still primarily a place of study and instruction.

The Mysterium holds another, more important purpose that most within the Inner Sea are not aware of: it has a secure depository for rare and dangerous books—the most infamous of which is the vile Necronomicon. Lowls came here to find it and the Watchmen must learn what he did in order to find and stop him.

***

The stern faces of angelic statues look down upon the Watchmen as they arrive at an iron doorway set into the smooth sandstone walls of the Mysterium. A braided copper bell pull hangs nearby.

Fearless gulps. "This is it guys...Lowls could be right behind those doors with the Necronomicon. What are we going to say to him?" He looks to the others.

”I’m very tired of boats. So tired of being in that Cat’s nest,” Cats complains as he stretches his legs. ”C’mon, let’s go find an inn, tomorrow we can find the Mysterium and the copy of the NecroCaticon.”

After a good nap, and many foodings, Cats will ask around about the Mysterium.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 Diplomacy

After a good nap, and many foodings, Cats will ask around about the Mysterium.

Cats asks someone walking by about the Mysterium. They frown and point to the building right behind him, then walk off grumbling about tourists.

”Someone should put a sign in common on that place…”

You are literally standing in front of it.

"Let's check out this sorority", the Mariner rings the bell cord once the unintimidating sophomore passes by. "Bookworms...", he says disdainfully. Then catching Fearless in his sight, "Not you, of course."

Fearless slumps. "I am surrounded by actual insane people." He opens the doors and enters the Mysterium. "LOWLS, YOU SUNOFAB@$+!! WE'RE HERE!" He screams out.

LOL I didn't expect that

Brother Butterfly muses about this Mysterium.
hmmmm.. priests of Nethys... those clerics can be known to be very black and white about the rules. Me and my fellow followers of Desna are more footloose and fancy free. Kinda opposites in their modus operandi. Very linear type thinkers.

He looks for a directory or listing of curator names. Checking for a name he heard was a part of the church, a name of Ahmose.

As soon as Mariner rings the chord, and Fearless yells at the top of his voice.
I see we are going with the "direct" route. Weren't you the very same squeeky voice that was talking about "stealth and invisibility" not 4 or 5 weeks ago?
BB lightly squeezes his throat. Singing through the musical scales. do-rae-mi-fa-so la- ti-doe.
Activate the aspect of the nightengale spell to increase his diplomacy.

Yes, but are there any rumors or things to know about the Mysterium? It’s more than where it is.

Cats waits to see if the very smart efforts by Catless or Catterfly bear any fruit, as he had completely failed in his own attempts.

I might have been a little hasty in pushing so far forward. Book 4 could have benefited from better editing. With Mun’s and Lowls’ journals there is little more you can learn in Katheer about the Mysterium, but lets recap what you learned back in Cassomir:

Lowls and Mun planned to bribe their way in to the Mysterium and steal the Necronomicon from a part of the library called the Soul. Lowls knew there were dangerous magical wards and a mysterious guardian known only as the Keeper.

The locals wouldn’t know much more about the wards or guardian, but there is one additional thing you could learn upon arriving in Katheer - something happened at the Mysterium a few weeks ago and it’s been closed ever since.

"Catted? What do you mean it's catted? We wanna get in there. We need it open," Cats grouses, taking a walk around the building to find a way in...or for a Ye Olde Teleportation & Apothecary Shoppe.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 Perception to case the joint from the outside 7 discretely

If he was going to bribe someone to get in, we should be able to deduce WHOM he'd need to bribe. Probably a person in charge with keys, or guards with keys. I wonder if there's a way to find out those people and see if we can get them to admit their guilt and possibly piggyback on what Lowls did to get in?

BB knows that it's complicated and a longshot. But he wants to offer a suggestion.

The Mariner stares dully at the Mysterium, his mind not racing beyond thoughts that are more than 12 words long. "But isn't Lowl a powerful wizard, couldn't he just walk through these-" he gestures at the stone structure with fluttering fingers.

He looks around for his common tool to get through things - a victim.

Any poor sod passing by?

"Oy! - YOU."

"If it's closed then let's just go through a window. Can't you see or walk through that stuff Shapeshifter?" Fearless points to the doors.

Of course I can! It is through Desna that I do all things, but that is a blessing that she routinely bequeaths on me.
She also gives me the chance to see different things through an arcane eye.

BB is going to pray for detect magic and then use door-sight on any door that is not the main entrance.

@ gm, a map available yet? Also, I'm going to assume that my Detect Magic will work alongside doorsight too? Kinda like a crystal ball? If not, please advise and I'll do something more cerebral.

Brother gives a prayer to Desna.
Oh Great Dreamer. There are roads, highways, tollways, streets, and avenues. Guide me as I speak the divine words you taught me! [i] googlemaps, waze, Rand McNally!

Ok, trying to get back on track.

Cats slips away from the other Watchmen as they discuss their options for getting into the Mysterium. He gets to a corner of the square building and looks down another wall, but sees no windows or other ways inside yet.

Back at the entrance Brother Butterfly is reaching out to touch the door and look through it when it suddenly opens a crack.

”What’s all that yelling?” A dark skinned man frowns at the group outside. He wears simple robes over a chain shirt and carries a staff worked with arcane runes. Beyond him can be seen two other men, similarly attired. ”The Mysterium is closed. Inquiries are being handled by Elder Thyrr in the librarian’s quarters.” He gesture with his staff to a building across the street.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Fearless snaps shut as the doors swing open. "Oh hello, someone is here." He listens quietly. "And where exactly are the Librarian Quarters?" He looks around pointing in the opposite direction of the Mysterium.

Cats returns when he returns, and will follow the party to the Librarian Quarters if given the chance.

”Elcat Thyrr? Huh. Yeah, probably some sort of Elcat,” Cats notes completely normally.

"Why is it closed?", the Mariner plays dumb easily, "We're here to get some edumuhcation."

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

Auto pass sense motive

"And where exactly are the Librarian Quarters?"

Brother Butterfly rolls his eyes and talks to Fearless.

He turns to the man with the Arcane runes.
I was just at Their Quarters. I can't tell for certain if it was Elder Thyrr's mark, but there was a magical note-symbol on the door indicating that it was closed and locked and he was in the Mysterium.
We followed the note-- and thus, here we are.

Do you want to check out the symbol on the door of the librarian's quarters? Or maybe check to see if Elder Thyrr is actually inside the Mysterium? We will wait.

bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

The guards look at each other, one shrugging at this strange story being told to them. ”We know she isn’t in the Mysterium. No one has passed us today. If there is a note on her door we will investigate.” The guards select one of their members and send him across the street.

The remaining guards settle in to wait.

"You wanna show him where that symbol is located?", the Mariner says to Brother as the guard runs off. He wasn't sure what Brother BuIIshit is planning but is ready to follow the guard and show him the symbol of a fist to the forehead, or stay and wait.

Catiner is on fire. His posts have been banging recently.

Cats thinks that the party might want to speak with the Elder Thyrr, the older of the Thyrr.

Given that he can now chat one on one with the guard- using his silvered tongue ability. Either the unmagiked or the magiked tongue. He converses with the guard as they walk.
So, what's really going on at the Museum? I noticed sideway glances behind you - like some crazy overseer or bad boss was over your shoulder? Seemed kind like you have a brutal boss.

If I can get off a songbird spell without being noticed, I'll do it. Otherwise, here's the unmagiced roll. Add +2 if I can use the songbird spell. diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

BB is also ready to use some guile and spells to mind-f~@* the guard in case it's needed.

First, I see that I fumbled the diplomacy. That's not happened to BB before ! This will be exciting to see how badly he messed up.
#2: I had actually cast detect magic and I can concentrate on it for the whole duration of the conversation. Are they charmed? Are they under protection magics? See above post from Monday May 30th

Fearless has no clue what Brother Butterfly has planned as he begrudgingly follows waits as he speaks to the guards at the door. He watches as the group rushes off after the chosen one across the street and tries to use the opportunity of noone paying much attention to him to slip inside past the guards unnoticed. His hairy feet pad silently across the ground as he tries to get through the open door of the Mysterium staying low.

Stealth: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 39

The Mariner let's Brother walk off with the rube, choosing instead to pussyfoot around with Cats and the other hall monitors. With a look from Fearless sneaking off, he runs distraction. "Hey fellas -did you hear about the halfling that walked into a library and asked about books on the subject of Irony?", he pauses to deliver the punchline, "The librarian says 'Sure - they're over there on the top shelf'!"

Laughter or not, he continues, "Alright, alright...What did the Old Ones ask for at the brothel!?"

assist: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Brother Butterfly tries to get more information out of the guards. ”Someone was messing around with the old books section and tried a ritual or something. If Thyrr knows you she should be the one to tell you more.”

@Fearless: I was going to say this was impossible, but what the hell. It’s funny.

Meanwhile, Fearless ducks down and crawls beneath some of the librarian’s skirts, slipping past some legs and learning the truth about the mystery of if mages wear underpants. He comes crawling out behind them and finds himself in a hallway that continues forward and also branches off left and right from the door. The outer walls of the broad corridors in the library are crammed with shelves of weighty tomes, cases stacked with maps, and cabinets and cupboards holding arcane odds and ends.

Map updated

Fearless looks up and just knows that this is going to be another of Brother Butterfly's paintings. His feet pad lightly against the floor as he rounds the corner, looking for a door to duck into.

Stealth: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (20) + 21 = 41

"Let's go find the Elder Cat then," Cats notes officially like it's best idea, at least much better than splitting the party and going in solo, which is also an idea that exists, but is much less good.

Yes, Let's glean more information from Elder Thyrr. Maybe she's back at the cleric abodes.

BB doesn't even notice the disappearance of Fearless. He's just trying to think quickly on his feet should the guard *not* find a mages mark on the dorm door.

BB walks with them.

Fearless slips away from the guards and heads towards the center of the building. Turning a corner in the library he spots two doors, one to the north and one to the south. Straight to the east he sees a large, dark mirror, angelic figures frolicking with dogs and other benign animals framing it.

***

Outside the other Watchmen cross the street, heading into a cluster of buildings the Mysterium houses it’s staff in. The guard leads the way quickly to an apartment with a small garden out front. From within the apartment comes the sounds of a violin, rapid notes trilling, struggling through a complex musical piece for a moment, then screeching off key and coming to a halt.

The music is vaguely familiar…

”Apologies,” The guard murmurs. ”Elder Thyrr has become obsessed with mastering a new composition.”

As the group reaches the door, the guard notes the absence of a message and turns to Brother Butterfly. ”Is this the apartment you came to?”

Raising his knees high Fearless pads down the hallway and checks into the rooms to the north and south looking for signs of Lowls. Or if anything a good place to hide if the guards decide to come back around.

Cats waits for Brother Catterfly to extricate himself from the mess of his own creation, probably by flirting or other proposition. He leans against the wall and crosses his arms.

"Was it this door, Catterfly? Or another. I don't remember you doing this at all, but I'm a cathead," Cats doesn't lie at all.

Leaping on the guards question, and seeing a very believable out. Jasper sweet talks to squash any concerns the guard might have. He also makes certain to properly "tip the guard" for his time, and pivots attention to the Elder Thyrr.

It takes a strong man to admit when he is wrong. I must admit that I do not recognize this door or pathway to this garden apartment.
Now that we have found the good Elder, I'd like the opportunity to thank you for your dedicated service.... by asking Desna to "take a load off your shoulders".
BB prays aloud to Desna and asks that she pass a blessing onto this helpful man.
O' Butterfly. The keeper of Dreams. Grant this diligent man the blessing of heavy lifting and carrying of loads. Give him a whole day where the weight of the world does not burden his shoulders. Hyster, Caterpillar, Clark, Toyota, Yale. With that, BB prays for 22 hours of Anthaul to benefit the guard.
***************************
He turns to Elder Thyrr. Popping on a super fake face of excitement and overjoyed exhuberance to match the tone of sweet talking he's going to try and do.
ELDER THYRR! If I recall, you are playing a piece called Thistle in the wind! A masterful piece with such complex mixings. I know the piece you are trying because we have the sheet music in our very belt pouches!
He turns to look at Fearless to see if he can pull out the Viol and the music. He partially ecks out the name "Fearless" before jumping to talk with someone he actually sees here with them.
Fe...eeaar ...
Um, Cats. Do you have the sheet music in your waist gear? Remember how Loic talked about that ultra challenging song he was playing on the Viol?
As Cats or Mariner pad their possessions to see if they have the sheet music, BB continues to talk with the music woman.
I too am a fan of the arts. My craft is painting, but music also fills the soul with grand ascendance.
I'm not certain if we sold the Viol or sheet music or stuffed it into a backpack. But now's the time to pull it out for my Diplomacy Check. Also, BB doesn't show his worry over where Fearless is -outwardly- but his mind is scrambling to see if he's lurking in shadows or where he lost the little guy.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 20 + 2 = 32

The guard cuts in, ”Im sorry Elder Thyrr, these men arrived at the Mysterium claiming to have been directed there by a note on your door.”

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

The guard looks around, turning in a circle. ”Wait, where is the halfling?”

Elder Thyrr looks up from a violin she holds and takes a moment to observe the strange big man and his strange companions. Putting down the instrument, she reaches for a cane and eases herself upright. She is dressed simply and speaks first to the guard with an incredibly soft voice.

”I haven’t left any notes on any doors. And I assure you I wouldn’t send anyone to the Mysterium without personally vouching for them.” She turns to Beother Butterfly. ”I suspect more happening here than is being said. You say you know this piece?” She gestures at sheet music on a stand nearby. ”I have practiced the violin on occasion, but this music is the most complex composition I have ever seen. And no one I have shown it to seems to know who wrote it, or where it comes from. What can you tell me of it?”

Cats will look for the sheet music, not sure he has it, but if he does, he will hand it over.

"Oh yeah, that old song. You wouldn't believe where we cat it, that's for cat," Cats offers.

"I don't know where the halfling went. He's a paranoid little cat, and probably thought his own shadow was following him, so he had to run away. You'll probably only find him when he's distracted by something he's seeing...so I would check the brothels first."